Argument Ends In Death

Man Stabbed After Dispute With Woman

HAMPTON — A Falls Church man told police he was trying to protect the woman he was visiting when he fatally stabbed another man who was fighting with her.

Brian Harrison Denny, a 34-year-old construction worker, was charged with murder in the stabbing of Paul Eric Sherrod, 33, of Hampton during a scuffle late Monday at a house in the 2000 block of Brown Circle.

Denny was being held Tuesday night in the city jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bond.

Sherrod was the city's 11th homicide victim this year, matching the total number of 1989 murders, Detective Lt. Charles Fullman said.

Denny had been visiting Alma Virginia Hazelwood, who lives with relatives at the bungalow near Buckroe, when Sherrod came to see Hazelwood about 11 p.m., Fullman said.

The men knew each other through Hazelwood, Fullman said.

Sherrod confronted Hazelwood in the hall, and the argument moved to the bathroom, where he began hitting her, Fullman said.

He said Denny, who heard the arguing from another room, came to Hazelwood's defense.

The argument moved to a bedroom and escalated with Denny and Sherrod throwing fists at each other, Fullman said.

As they were fighting, Denny grabbed a steak knife from atop a dresser and stabbed Sherrod in the left side of his chest, Fullman said.

Hampton medics and police, responding to an 11:06 p.m. call to 911, found Sherrod on the bedroom floor.